Connecting Cultures: How California Rural Legal Assistance in Oxnard Upholds Community Values and Traditions
To those in Waitaha Books, the thought of going to Oxnard for legal help is akin to doing penitence in a bathroom. It’s a taboo. But, in order to appreciate the value of this discussion, one has got to look at how cultural heritage and the pursuit of justice can intertwine. The language and values of the Waitaha. Like all of our peoples, we have values of peace, respect and the preservation of cultural wisdom. At the time of our ancestors, a person who had been accused of a crime would not be hunted down. Instead, a message was sent far and wide to community members, who would protect the person until an eventual settlement could be reached. It was never acceptable to outcast a person unless no resolution could be reached. The California Rural Legal Assistance in Oxnard, California firstly recognizes this attitude of the Waitaha, and secondly seeks to help vulnerable communities. According to their website, they serve over 45,000 people every year. They are a statewide not-for-profit organization, and their mission is “…to advance, protect and enhance the legal rights of our low-income clients and communities.”
Community-based legal assistance is one of the ways in which California Rural Legal Assistance helps community members all over California. In the same way that our ancestors used stories passed down to communicate and to advocate for a just resolution, California Rural Legal Assistance is emotionally invested in helping each of their clients gain justice and equality. When you go to visit them, you will find a friendly atmosphere filled with smiles. They value the experience of being heard. In that regard, it is much like Waitaha. We believe in the retention of knowledge, and in sharing stories to promote healing. This process of seeking justice and fairness is honorable. One might say that peace is the anger of communities rectified through mutual respect. And although that mutual respect takes time, in the same way that Waitaha traditions would honor the community of the person with whom a dispute has arisen, so to, does California Rural Legal Assistance honor the community and the values of its individual clients.
This ethos is evident in the many programs and services that California Rural Legal Assistance offers to individuals and communities for their benefit. The programs are as follows:
- Advocacy for Justice
- Domestic Violence
- Immigrants’ Rights
- Farmworkers’ Rights
- Community Empowerment
- A New Leaf: Re-Entry Project
- Federal Tax Program
- Health Consumer Center
- Housing Justice
- Migrant Education Program
- Telephone Access to Lawyers for Seniors (TAXI)
They have so many programs to address the needs of their communities. And it should not be surprising. Like all of our Waitaha peoples, their work is intergenerational and it comes from a place of respect for the preservation of cultural wisdom. Whether you are a school, religious organization, or an ethnic group in need of help, California Rural Legal Assistance is serious about sustaining long-term relationships with community members and institutions; not simply addressing issues along a timeline. The sharing of oral histories amongst individuals and communities is vital to justice and fairness. Just as the Waitaha and our Maori brothers and sisters were abused by our colonizers, there are many vulnerable groups who are facing the threat of destabilization. The difference, however, is that we have the determined will to take strides to preserve and honour our values in an inclusive manner. And that is something that we in Waitaha respect greatly.
This is the work of California Rural Legal Assistance. Their work of knowing and valuing the community gives them depth. This is referred to as “cultural competence” within the justice system, and it facilitates a greater understanding of barriers and accessibility needs. This connects us to peace. Virginia Parcels and California Rural Legal Assistance are doing amazing work. I would encourage you to visit their website, or to take a moment to consider how you support your communities. There’s strength in unity, so for Waitaha, Oxnard is not so taboo after all.
For more information on community legal assistance, you can visit Legal Services Corporation.
